Slow as Molasses Event

Local dealership, Porsche of Nashua, asked me to cover an event for them, this is what I got. I haven't done anything like this before so please constructive criticism is appreciated. I know I needed to get more driving footage but we were on a one-lane road and I dont have a zoom/telephoto lens to see the cars from where I was positioned in the line up. Anyways enjoy and please comment and like the video!
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=63UaOuefavM

I liked the general feel of the video, the music choice was nice

I liked the slider shots, but felt at times it was too slow, the uniformity of it was great! was it motorized or entirely moved by hand either way, great work!

I'd suggest using some sort of stabilizer for crowd shots, the shakiness was very distracting and I myself can't hold a camera steady especially video, but if that's all you have, I'd suggest doing some sort of video stabilization in post, but even that might bring up bigger issues of strange warping or such things.

Focus was an issue with the driving shots, I know its hard to judge focus on that screen in a moving car, but you should take a look at Magic Lantern firmware for the t2i, you can enable focus peaking where red dots show which area is in focus while recording.

For info on magic lantern
http://www.dslrfilmnoo​b.com …-feature-overview-part-1/

Last thing was there was an awkward cut/pause at 2:15, I don't know if it intentional or not, maybe you accidentally dropped a frame or something? If it was meant as a cut, you need to sustain it for longer or have some musical cue or introduce a transition.

Kudos on being brave and posting a video! Taking critique is difficult and a class I just took suggested that the creator of an edited video should also ask questions as well, not just did you like it? ask about something like, did you like the slider shots and their movements, was it overdone? etc, just as examples

theyangster wrote in post #14148284
I liked the general feel of the video, the music choice was nice

I liked the slider shots, but felt at times it was too slow, the uniformity of it was great! was it motorized or entirely moved by hand either way, great work!

I'd suggest using some sort of stabilizer for crowd shots, the shakiness was very distracting and I myself can't hold a camera steady especially video, but if that's all you have, I'd suggest doing some sort of video stabilization in post, but even that might bring up bigger issues of strange warping or such things.

Focus was an issue with the driving shots, I know its hard to judge focus on that screen in a moving car, but you should take a look at Magic Lantern firmware for the t2i, you can enable focus peaking where red dots show which area is in focus while recording.

For info on magic lantern
http://www.dslrfilmnoo​b.com …-feature-overview-part-1/

Last thing was there was an awkward cut/pause at 2:15, I don't know if it intentional or not, maybe you accidentally dropped a frame or something? If it was meant as a cut, you need to sustain it for longer or have some musical cue or introduce a transition.

Kudos on being brave and posting a video! Taking critique is difficult and a class I just took suggested that the creator of an edited video should also ask questions as well, not just did you like it? ask about something like, did you like the slider shots and their movements, was it overdone? etc, just as examples

Thank you very much for that extensive crit.
First off, the slider shots where hand done, still trying to get them smoother, but its hard. I have a steady cam but couldn't find it this morning before I left so shame on me.... ;(
The focusing it very hard when your sticking the camera out the window aiming it back, lol but I think magic lantern will help, I plan on doing it but waiting till after I shoot a friends wedding, because I dont want to screw anything up with my camera before that haha.
As for the black frames, they were all intentional, there was a bass drop where I tried to sync up with the frame and then start again on the next beat, I get what your saying how the one is too quick though, thanks. I ask myself the same question after every video I do, what did I do better in this one than the last one? what could have I dont better?

Anyway thanks a lot for the comments they really help me out a lot, another set of eyes is so helpful!

It's better than I might expect for a first time shoot. Some shots seemed to be repeated, & instead of mixing them all together, I'd rather see you do a series on each car at the same time as a sequence. Then move on to another car, preferably a WA of a different colored one for separation from the previous one. Try to start with a wider shot to establish what we're seeing, & then move in for the detail shots. I like that you used mostly cuts, instead of zooming in.

Some shots were shaky. If you aren't using a tripod, then try shooting a wider angle which will reduce the apparent movement. Some exposures were, off, too. Watch the framing, just as you would with a still shot. Some had 1/2 the subject in the middle with a lot of useless sky above.

Since the dealership asked you to cover the event, you needed more dealership ID at the start to establish just what dealership it was. At the end you have a rolling shot that shows the name on the building, which was rushed & didn't stay up long enough. That should have been at the start & maybe repeated with a "leaving shot" at the end.

What's a "slider"? Is that like a dolly shot?

The most important thing I can suggest is to have a plan before you ever start to shoot. That's called a "Script?" From that you make a shot list. This doesn't mean that you can't get grab shots as you see them, but it will make editing much easier if you had a plan to follow at the beginning, & make notes as to where the footage is on the script as you go.

Keep it up. It gets easier as you get experience. I could go on, but for a first time shoot, at least I was able to watch it to the end.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #14149302
It's better than I might expect for a first time shoot. Some shots seemed to be repeated, & instead of mixing them all together, I'd rather see you do a series on each car at the same time as a sequence. Then move on to another car, preferably a WA of a different colored one for separation from the previous one. Try to start with a wider shot to establish what we're seeing, & then move in for the detail shots. I like that you used mostly cuts, instead of zooming in.

Some shots were shaky. If you aren't using a tripod, then try shooting a wider angle which will reduce the apparent movement. Some exposures were, off, too. Watch the framing, just as you would with a still shot. Some had 1/2 the subject in the middle with a lot of useless sky above.

Since the dealership asked you to cover the event, you needed more dealership ID at the start to establish just what dealership it was. At the end you have a rolling shot that shows the name on the building, which was rushed & didn't stay up long enough. That should have been at the start & maybe repeated with a "leaving shot" at the end.

What's a "slider"? Is that like a dolly shot?

The most important thing I can suggest is to have a plan before you ever start to shoot. That's called a "Script?" From that you make a shot list. This doesn't mean that you can't get grab shots as you see them, but it will make editing much easier if you had a plan to follow at the beginning, & make notes as to where the footage is on the script as you go.

Keep it up. It gets easier as you get experience. I could go on, but for a first time shoot, at least I was able to watch it to the end.

Thanks for the feedback, I'll keep those comments in mind for the next one I do.
And yes a slider is like a dolly http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=ui_ItunKJvc

And yes a slider is like a dolly http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=ui_ItunKJvc

Thanks. Much more hi-tech than my little red wagon.